SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Stavros Center for Independent Living celebrated a major milestone Thursday evening--its 50th Anniversary. Dozens came out for the non-profit's annual gala to support their work and mission. These five decades of serving western Massachusetts…commemorate the organization advocating, supporting, and empowering people with disabilities. Stavros is considered one of the largest and most impactful independent living centers in the region. 22News spoke with CEO Angelina Ramirez about some of the obstacles people they serve continue to face. "People with disabilities continue to have to advocate for themselves, to live out of nursing homes and live in the community because there is not enough housing and the housing that exists is not necessarily so that's one of the big things," says Ramirez. "The other is employment even though we have an employment crisis we have a lot of people with disabilities that are willing to work yet they can't find a job." She added they are currently serving more than 10,000 people throughout the region.The gala also serves as a fundraising opportunity to assist Stavros with their services which include providing ramps for people with disabilities to even batteries for wheelchairs. Local News Headlines Holyoke teen reported missing since September, last seen in NYC Westfield Tech inspires youth with STEM career paths Stavros Center celebrates 50 years of empowering lives Tech Foundry celebrates 10 years of workforce development at gala WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.